PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Evan White (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Harrold Branch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Branch has chosen Cocaine Blues, Johnny Cash as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

White
vs
Branch

184 cm
26
190 lbs
7 - 7 - 0

185 cm
24
191 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

GR Design - Top quality, from $10 to $150 !

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Evan White!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Harrold Branch!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Steve Erwin and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

White fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Branch, pushing him back against the cage.
White wants to take the fight to the mat but Branch manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Branch gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, White regains guard.
White is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Branch controls from within his opponent's guard.
Branch postures up.
Branch controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
It looks like Branch might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Harrold Branch.
Branch lands with a good body shot.

White gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
White looking for a takedown.
White is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Branch gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Evan White. That's going to take a lot out of him.
White being controlled against the cage.
White has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Branch avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
White wants a takedown.
White is trying to drag Branch to the mat but Branch just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Branch turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
White can't do much from the bottom here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Branch fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Branch is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt White will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Let's hope that Branch has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
White is looking to regain half guard here but Branch keeps moving and retains side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
White is working hard here to advance position.
Branch takes a little break here. White wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
White is trying to improve his position.
Branch working the ground and pound from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Branch remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Branch's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
White gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Branch looks gassed!
White makes his way to full guard. A much better position for White.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Branch is stalling in the full guard.

Branch avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Branch showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Harrold Branch.
Branch misses with a two punch combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Harrold Branch dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

White misses with a takedown

and Branch moves into the clinch.

White turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Branch is trying to get back to half guard.

White looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Branch sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
White wants to free his trapped foot but Branch is holding on for dear life with his legs.

White seems to be working for a kimura but Branch defends the submission attempt.
Branch is staying active underneath White, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Harrold Branch has got the better of the ground game so far.
White trying to pass the guard but Branch defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Branch is looking for a sweep. White is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Branch works his way to full guard. Good work.
White trying to control the position from guard on top but Branch is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Branch utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Branch is breathing heavily.

Branch working for a triangle but White defends it easily.
White wants to control from the top but Branch keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
White stands and throws Branch's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Branch regains half guard.
White is looking to take a break and control but Branch is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

White is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Branch has managed to free his arm - good work.
White is looking to take a break and control but Branch is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Branch looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Evan White dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

White closes the distance and clinches up with Branch, looking for a takedown. White pushes Branch against the cage but Branch circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Branch drives through and clinches with White against the cage.

Branch is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. White can't fight it off and eventually Branch manages to take the fight to the floor. White looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Branch controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Branch takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now White is on top in guard.
Branch working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from White.

That's one minute gone in the round.
White wants to control from the top but Branch keeps moving.
White slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
White tries to score with some ground and pound. Branch controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
White throwing shots but missing, from side control.

White is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Branch knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
White wants to lay and pray for a moment but Branch keeps working.

White wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Branch, who protects the arm well.

White goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Branch has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for White but great work by Branch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee asks Branch politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Branch prefers to stall for the moment though.
You can see the frustration on White's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
White seems a little lost for a moment, as Branch dominates the positioning.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Harrold Branch was stalling too much, according to the referee.
White shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Branch as he jumps to the side.
White with a lazy takedown attempt

and Branch counters with a takedown into side control.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Evan White. That's going to take a lot out of him.
White tries to buck Branch off but Branch is having none of it.
White is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Branch not doing much here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
White tries to get to full guard but Branch has control of the leg.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Harrold Branch.
I think Branch has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Harrold Branch!
In his post fight interview, Harrold Branch gave a big smile as he said 'Thank You all so much thanks QFC for giving me a fight and thanks to my opponent for taking this fight. Its been a long road to stand here today, i've been through hell and back with drugs and crime and i stand here ready to be a new man! THANK YOU ALL!!'.